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Cats are undeniably adorable yet often unpredictable creatures. One moment, they are social, playful, and caring, and the other, they let all havoc loose, destroying everything in their way. Owners of these feline companions are proven this time and time again when they find piles of toilet paper or soil scattered around the house.

Luckily, they often manage to see the bright side of these mildly infuriating moments and share them with the rest of us so we can laugh and share their pain together. We at Bored Panda have collected some of the most mischievous cat crimes, and honestly, it’s pretty impressive what they can do when left to their own devices.

#1 Typical

Image credits: rifle-mel

#2 Egg Thief

Image credits: bbykaat

#3 My Cat Messed Up A Single Part Of My Window Shades. Never Realized Why Until Just Now

Image credits: cbugg

Some people assume that cats destroy their owner’s possessions out of vengeance or some other mischievous hidden agenda. However, such behaviors are part of their nature.

Scratching, specifically, is an instinct that allowed their predecessors to survive and thrive in the wild. It can start as early as 8 weeks of age and lets felines mark their territory by leaving visual and chemical cues as a pheromone is released from the scent gland in their feet. This odor contains information about the animal’s health, sex, and breeding status, all of which other cats can detect.

#4 He Threw My House Slipper In The Toilet

Image credits: lymidy

#5 Admiring Her Handiwork

Image credits: xenawp314

#6 He’s On A Diet. It’s Not Going Great

Image credits: pickles-and-mayo

Felines also scratch surfaces to sharpen their nails, removing the old layers of the nail to expose a new, sharp part underneath. Honed claws allow cats to be better hunters and defend themselves from predators or threats.

Additionally, it lets a cat stretch out its muscles fully, relieving tension. Moreover, the action releases calming chemicals in the brain that help to lessen anxiety and overexcitement.

#7 Your Homework? Never Heard About It

Image credits: Adan714

#8 My Wife Couldn’t Figure Out Why The Plants In Her Flower Box Were Dying. I Think I Found The Problem

Image credits: Spankyco

#9 The Amount Of Guilt On That Cat’s Face Is Hilarious

Image credits: imgur.com

In the wild, cats often scratch against tree trunks, which leaves a visual and chemical cue at eye level for other felines. For this reason, the arms of couches and the legs of unvarnished wooden furniture are usually the most common targets for territorial scratching of house companions.

#10 My Coffee Is His Coffee

Image credits: Siskriss

#11 My Cat Broke Into A 5 Lb Bag Of Catnip. I Came Home To This

Image credits: DoomsdayDebbie

#12 Ah Yes, The Classic Feline Adage: “If I Fits, I Sits”

Image credits: iamnotawindmill

Because these actions are innate in cats, they can be hard to stop when they become undesirable. The best way to solve this issue is to provide alternatives that your cat might enjoy. Scratch posts are great for this. They should be tall enough to allow the cat to stretch out fully and be sturdy so they don’t fall over, frightening or injuring the animal.

#13 They Want To Go To The Beach

Image credits: catsuptonogood

#14 My Jerk Cat Knocks Over A Lamp And Then Yells At Me About It

Image credits: C_Smallegan

#15 There Are No Thoughts Behind Those Eyes

Image credits: michaelscat2

The preference for the material of the scratching post might also individually depend on the cat. Paying close attention to furniture scratching behavior can help you find some clues. You might need to experiment a bit to determine what the furry companion prefers, which can include upholstery fabric, sisal rope, carpet, wood, or cardboard.

#16 Another Reason To Put The Lid Down

Image credits: GoldenDog1112

#17 Left My Office Door Open For One Minute

Image credits: UGiveMeAHadron

#18 Using Her Tree To Redecorate. I Wondered Why These 2 Were Always Crooked

Image credits: MarieMdeLafayette

Once the preferable material is determined, the post should be placed near their favorite to-scratch furniture and where the cat and family members spend a lot of time. Putting their resources, such as food, water, toys, litter boxes, and toys, near commonly used areas ensures that they’ll use them. Some felines might enjoy scratching their nails near their beds. Meanwhile, having more than one of these posts around the house guarantees they’re always near a suitable option if they get the itch.

#19 The Crime, The Criminal, The Evidence

Image credits: luckycoinantiques

#20 My Cat Decided To Ruin This Batch Of Bread. At Least She Was Comfortable

Image credits: CompetitiveFunny752

#21 My Cat Didn’t Like Her Trip To The Vet, So She Chewed A Hole Under The Futon And Has Been Hiding In It Since We Got Back

Image credits: kittensforbrunch

To encourage the use of such an alternative, the owner might want to model how it’s done for the cat by running their nails over the post. This creates an intriguing demonstration that might entice the feline to come and try it. Sprinkling catnip on it or giving rewarding treats after they use it can also motivate them to continue such behavior.

#22 He Had A Mission

Image credits: GavinFree

#23 Princess Pamela Knocked Over Two Plants. All Because I Didn’t Feed Her The Moment I Came Home From Work

Image credits: chezaraez

#24 What A Lovely Little Garden! Would Be A Shame If Someone Were To Lay Down On It

Image credits: Anonymousopotamus

However, a cat should never be punished for such behavior. It can create anxiety, which in turn increases the chances of fear-based aggression. Instead, try offering sufficient enrichment to a bored or anxious cat to reduce excessive undesirable behavior. This can include cat trees for them to climb, providing perches by windows to look outside, and allocating more time for interactive playtimes.